I thunder toward the Okun, my mind and soul ablaze in rage, sword striking out with tenacity and agility I never knew I could achieve. Slicing sideways, my blade hungering for the flesh and blood of this bastard. It will get its meal.

But, all my opponent did is lift his left index finger. His smile so condescending, waiting for my attack to fail. My ire growing into madness.

Suddenly, everything slowed to a stop. The muscles in my arms, legs, and torso started to bulge and writhe with power unknown to me. A familiar warmth started to course through my veins, spreading throughout my muscle, nerve, and bone. My eyesight becoming clear as my mind finally caught up.

Time roared forward, my swords edge finally making contact.

It was a clean cut. The tip flying off, lilac blood shot from the fresh wound with vigor. The room quiet, everyone trying to process what just happened.

The first to act was Abigor, not expecting the blade to damage him in the slightest, he roars out in pain. Clutching his wounded left hand, shocked, not able to comprehend how a cripple could cut him. His plated gauntlet is made of the best A tier monster material money could buy! How the hell did he cut through it?!

My sister silenced by my actions. Her little brother facing off against the strongest man in this part of the galaxy, and actually damaging him! Never in her wildest dreams would she ever think that was possible.

I on the other hand, focusing on this feeling, felt good. Being the guy to shock everyone instead of being shocked, With the power still coursing through me, I made my mind up. Lifting my sword back into position, I grin, feeling alive for the first time in forever.

I go in for the kill while he is still shocked. Thrusting forward, aiming to cleave if skull in two.

But, before I am able to, He evaporates into purple fog once more. Dam, fucking magic bullshit. It's not fair.

His voice then boomed out, less confident than his last.

“I’ll admit, I’m amazed that you were able to hurt me. I underestimated you cripple” His voice says, echoing through the chamber.

“But, I will not make that mistake twice.”

A blast of purple plasma shoots out from the shadows, bulldozing into my back. Sharp searing pain shot through my spin as I collapse, head first, heading for the floor.

I stumble, landing on my hand and knees. My back, though on fire, felt weirdly fine. The force of the blast doing more than just pushing me down.

Relieving warmth bubbled up from my core. Smothering the pain in pacifying heat.

I start to get back on my feet, looking around to see where he is. Scanning around, I see my sister in astonishment. I don’t blame her; I would be too if i wasn’t so focused. Abigor’s annoyed voice resounds through the throne room once more.

“How… How are you still alive!?” He questions.

“Does it have something to do with that orange energy covering your back?”

Orange energy? My eyes went wide, now understanding everything that’s happened.

The crash, when Riga healed me! When he was thinking before healing me! Everything feeling different after that…

What did he do to me?

“A blessing perhaps?”

My mind cleared by his question. No time to wonder why…

It’s time to kill…

“No matter, Doesn’t seem to give you much. Just some minor pain suppression and increase in physical might. Only a little better than a lowly Baliron…” voice uncertain at the end of his rant.

I crack a toothy grin while resting my blade on my left shoulder. Trying to act calm and collected, I manage to squeeze out…

“Really now? But if it’s not a big deal then, why did you run into the shadows with your tail tucked under your ass like a scorned dog?” My confidence rising with every word.

Silence permeated, my last line hanging in the air. Not a breath was inhaled, nor an eye blinked.

Then the room started to convulse, mauve fog coating the walls and floor around me. The only places left untouched by the strange power was the throne, the platform Catherine was on, and a 2-foot circle around my feet. Circling me like a predator surrounding its prey.

“You little shit…” He snarled, sounding even more furious than before.

“With a mouth like that, I’m surprised you haven’t been killed yet!” The room shaking as he shouts.

I ready myself, knowing he would try to kill me with his next attack. I close my eyes and try to listen for his next attack. With my newly acquired enhanced senses I focus on the littlest noise like my life depended on it…

Which it did.

I could hear the subtle sound of air cutting coming from my back right. My mind working overtime to come up with a tactic to win. My eyes flash open as I turn toward the sound, lifting my sword up to block. Then after the parry, I would thrust forward and stab this bastard in the neck.

Body begins to move, acting out the plan. I twist my frame to avoid the attack and slash at the sound. Raising my sword from my shoulder, I go in for the block, ready to follow through with my hurriedly made strategy…

But reality is rarely kind to those with plans.

The first sight that came to me as I turn is my sword arm flying across my vision, severed from my shoulder, ruby blood gushing out of my arteries as my appendage flops to the ground.

I’m numb…

The pain so excruciating that all I could feel is cold electricity running through my mortal coil. Restricting my movements, even with the assistants of the blessing, the pain is still too much. I slowly start to fall back, My legs giving out with only just a second of blood loss.

How weak.

I crash to the floor on my back, only slightly more than a corpse at this point. All I could hear is the cries and shouts of my sister. She is begging for my life, saying she would do anything for me to live to Abigor…

I don’t deserve it.

“Sister…” I feebly let out. “Stop... Don’t sacrifice yourself for me, a being no better than the dirt we stand on.”

My sister shaking, tears of scarlet running down her face, wasted on me honestly.

“No, Don’t say that Deven!” She wails out. Anguish and grief flowing out in every word she spoke. Catherine starts to pull against the chains that bind her, cuffs digging into her skin till it started to hemorrhage.

“You can’t… You can’t leave me too…”

I look over toward her and with the little strength I have left, I smile.

“Sister… Catherine… I am so happy that I was able to live with you being my sister…” Her eyes scrunched up.

“You were the only one who ever believed I could be more than just a cripple. You gave me hope that I could be more, so I could live with no regrets…” My mind having flash backs to when I was a child. Memories of her and me, the life we had before our clan died. The happiest times in my life.

“The only regret I have… Is that even with my death, I still can’t save you.” The tears roll down my face, the second time this day.

She shakes her head, trying to deny the inevitable. I hope Riga comes soon, maybe he will be able to save my sister…

He did promise me after all…

“Ah, isn’t this touching. The parting of siblings. Always so sad, but what can you do!” I weakly turn at the sound of Abigor’s voice. My annoyance apparent on my face.

“Fuck you.” I rasp out, not as impactful as I would like, but asserting my point nonetheless.

“Still mouthy, even in the face of death. I'll admit, you have balls, if nothing else.” He sneers out.

“You did surprise me with that strange blessing that appeared out of nowhere, but it seems I was cautious for nothing.” He gloats.

“Are you really gloating about beating a cripple? You have no honor huh.” I smile as his frown grows. At least if I’m going to die, I'll die making fun of this fuck!

Maybe Riga had more of an impact on me than I thought?

“Well, I think my tolerance is officially depleted.”

He starts to walk towards me, every step closer to me makes my heart beat that much faster. I can’t seem to think up anything more to annoy him with at the moment, having blood loss, even slowed by magic, really sucks! Guess I'll need to practice more in my next life.

He stops just a foot from my left side. His right hand slowly glides over to the hilt of his sword and clutches it tightly.

“How pitifully to see a lamb…”

Drawing the sword over his head in one fluid motion, smiling down at me with teeth so sharp, and pupils contracted in fiery hate.

“Walk into the Lion’s den!” He roars out as the sword falls down like a guillotine.

My body filled with so much adrenaline, I see the blade slowly fall. My sister yelling out something, I couldn’t tell as all my senses where focused on the sharp metal of death coming to reap my soul.

Not being able to stomach the sight of my demise, I close my eyes and wait for it to be over.

hoping it will be painless…